Issue 009

November 2005

I’m sure that by now, most of you reading these words are aware of one or both of the following: A) there is a lack of Ultimate Fighting Championship coverage in the pages of this issue of Fighters Only; B) that the Ultimate Fighting Championship denied press access to mixed martial arts media outlets for UFC 55. 

Algebra wasn’t always my strongest subject going through school, but the way I see it, B + X, X being the reason for B, consistently equals A. So… if we subtract B from A, we should find out what the value for X is, right? 

The initial problem:

b+x=a

Subtract b from each side of the equation:

B + X - B = A - B

The answer:

X = A - B

Hmmm… that really doesn’t tell us much, does it? Wait, what if we plug in the actual values of A and B?

(UFC denial) + X = (Lack of coverage)

(UFC denial) + X - (UFC denial) = (Lack of coverage) - (UFC denial)

X = (Lack of coverage) - (UFC denial)

Wow! I guess I’m even worse at this algebra stuff than I thought. That still doesn’t tell me what the hell is X?

Of course, for those of you that have been following this situation, “What the hell is X?” is the million-dollar question.

For those of you that haven’t been following the situation, let me give you a brief synopsis. The primary media outlets that cover the sport of mixed martial arts (heretofore referred to as the “MMA media”), following the usual application process for credentials to cover UFC 55, with no forewarning, were abruptly denied said credentials to provide fans with coverage of the event. The reasoning in the letters issued individually to the various MMA Media outlets was that said outlet did not meet the qualifications for a media credential. Funny how many of these MMA Media outlets had been credentialed for every UFC show for years following the same application process and forms as those used for UFC 55.

Following the denials, Brener Zwikel & Associates, the public relations firm hired by Zuffa (the UFC’s parent company) to administer credentials for the event, referred all inquiries about the denials and the criteria used to determine the denials to Zuffa’s Director of Public Relations, Jennifer Wenk. When enquiries about the criteria were made to her, Wenk said that the criteria used was propriety and would not be made available to the media outlets that were denied. She in turn recommended that any further contact on the matter be directed to UFC President Dana White. 

Several attempts to contact White were met with no response, including a certified letter from a group of unified MMA Media members. On September 30th, just one week prior to UFC 55, White did finally speak with a designated representative of the MMA Media, saying that no new criteria had been implemented. He said that it was his company’s prerogative to accept or deny credentials and that he was currently denying all MMA-exclusive web sites.-

However, besides the MMA-exclusive web sites such as MMAWeekly.com, Sherdog.com, MMARingReport.com, and others, both Fighters Only and Full Contact Fighter (print publications) were also denied press access to the events.

So, that’s my “brief” synopsis. Yes, it’s a bit wordy, but it is a weighty issue. But, as you can see, despite repeated attempts, Professor (er, President) White was unwilling to provide the answer as to what the value of X is.

The world of mixed martial arts is extremely web-centric. Once word got out that there was what basically became known as the “UFC Media Ban”, it didn’t take long for the arguments, accusations, and speculation to run rampant. Without a straight answer from the headman himself, what else would anyone expect?

Some people felt that it was about time that the UFC should ban the MMA media. Apparently, we’re looked upon as either “fan boys” in search of autographs and photograph opportunities or a bunch of freeloaders that just want to get into the events at no charge for great seats.

Others theorize that White and the UFC are trying to shut down the MMA media in an attempt to corner the market on any and all content surrounding their promotion. Without access by the MMA Media, the UFC could drive more traffic to their web site as thee source for UFC news and coverage. Hand-in-hand with this theory is that the UFC might also be looking to create their own magazine, much for the same reasoning as the web site, so that they can control the coverage of their promotion and the way it is presented.

Another take on the situation is that White feels that the MMA Media has basically ridden along on the coat tails of the UFC. Maybe he feels that the MMA Media is just a bunch of hacks that have greatly profited from the UFC’s success, especially recently, and has given nothing back to them in return.

Last of the musings is that White basically can’t deal with any negative criticism of him or the UFC. Despite that the vast majority of coverage presented by the MMA Media casts the UFC in a positive light, some believe that White has a fragile ego; that he feels the need to stymie such criticism and shutting down the MMA Media is his credo of control. 

Being so close to the situation, you’d think that I would have a better grasp on what the answer for X is? But alas, I don’t have much more of a clue than anyone else. My suspicions lead me to believe that there may be a little bit of truth in nearly all of the theories put forth. 

Has Press Row had some less than qualified individuals in it over the years? Not only can I say yes to that, but hell, yes! But that comes with the territory. That is why there is an application process and when such individuals are in attendance, they should be policed by the UFC, at the very least, when considering them for future credentials. The answer then is simple, don’t let them back in. This one theory on it’s own is just too much of an over reaction to be believed as the sole reason for denying all MMA Media. There are too many legitimate journalists in the business that conduct themselves in a professional manner, to run with this one theory. 

What about the UFC attempting to move forward with themselves being the primary source of news and content in regards to the promotion? That sure seems to be more believable as, following Ultimate Fight Night 2 and UFC 55, they did start carrying more photos and a couple of video interviews (something they hadn’t done before) on their site, although both the quantity and quality of coverage they provided of their own events paled in comparison to the coverage routinely provided by the various MMA Media outlets. Still, it doesn’t seem to make sense that this would again be the sole reason. Why turn down the free publicity provided as a side effect of the MMA Media covering the promotion? Sure, the websites and print publications, such as Fighters Only, gain the benefit of garnering readership from one of the largest MMA promotions in the world, but the UFC also realizes the benefit of higher pay-per-view buys and viewership in return from the interest generated by the coverage in the MMA Media.

Of course, there are still the theories that the MMA Media is perceived as riding on the coat tails of the UFC and it’s recent success or that White has tired of tolerating any negative criticisms of him or the UFC. I could see where this might come into play, but again, none of this makes sense in and of itself if you isolate any one reason. 

Like I said, I just don’t have a definitive answer. Many of us in the media have searched high and low and none of us, at least to my knowledge, has uncovered the reasoning behind this latest move to deny the MMA Media press access to UFC events. I wish I did. I honestly and truly do. At least then, we would know where we stand.

It is an extremely bitter pill to swallow. Many of us have spent the better part of the past few years of our lives devoted to mixed martial arts, presenting it in a professional manner, and trying to give it credence as a legitimate sport and not some circus side show as it has been viewed as in the past and many times still is. As professional as we strive to be, it’s difficult not to take it personally. It seems a slap in the face to our credibility as journalists and professionals. But regardless of how we are viewed by Dana White and the UFC, regardless of their reasoning behind this baffling move, which more than one promoter has told me is, “The dumbest move that Zuffa has made since taking over the UFC,” we will continue to move on as professionals and provide the most balanced coverage of the sport that we can. 

Even after all of this inspection, deliberation and pontificating… I still don’t know what the hell the value of X is. Oh how I wish that I did.